Friday, June 26
Our pull-through site at Humbug Campground, Detroit, Oregon
Bridget, Reggie, and I sleep well all night after a day with a high of 104 degrees.
We wake up this morning refreshed. Per usual I head straight for the coffee pot and give it a lift to see how much is left. Hmm . . . . feels like a cup in there. I strike a match, turn on the burner, and light it. Pffftt!
A tiny ring of flame appears and disappears.
Oh, dangit! We’re outta’ propane. I turn to watch the lights on the refrigerator panel. Wait for it, wait for it… And there they go! The fridge is on vacay, too!
Fortunately, the crew has a batch of beef liver, cooked yesterday. Bridge and Reg love liver for breakfast! I cut it up in tiny chunks for them, put it on their little plates, and they scarf it down.
Around 8:30 I toss the crew into the Perfect Tow Vehicle.
The empty propane tank is bungied inside the back door. We truck on down to Detroit. Actually we van on down to Detroit. In addition to the propane, I buy a cup of coffee, my first of the day. Ah yes, tastes so good . . . Ta-daaa! The day has officially begun!
Back at camp I’m struck by a bolt of ambition.
It’s surprising how cool the mornings are during a heat wave. I set up the outdoor play area for Reggie and Bridget — pallet, toys, beds, water dish. I click the tether to Reggie’s suit. Bridget stations herself on the pallet. The two of them watch as I hook up the propane tank.
Next I take a basin over to the water spigot and fill it up.
Visual aid — Water going into basin
The Best Little Trailer needs a bath. She’s covered in dirt, road grime, pine sap, bird doo-doo, and who knows what all.
Fiberglass is super easy to clean.
All one needs is water and a squeegee!
It only takes about a half-hour to do the job!
I figured out that the best tool is a squeegee. It will scrub off stuff that’s stuck to the fiberglass. Then, a few swipes over the area with the squeegee loaded with water and the fiberglass rinses clean. Do not use the other side of the squeegee because the black rubber will leave scuff marks.
I thought I’d need to dry the fiberglass with a towel. Not so! Not in this dry air!
Imagine cleaning (or painting) the exterior of your house in 30 minutes or less.
I wanted to show Bridget as she watches me work. The sight of the camera sends her scurrying under the BLT. Supervisor Reggie is mad at me for washing the BLT instead of taking him for another walk. Our usual morning walk was cut short by the propane “emergency.”
“You can have another walk. It’s gonna’ hafta’ be short because it will be hot soon.”
Reggie and Bridget love to walk in the forest.
Our routine is to walk early in the morning, and again, late in the day when the forest is cool.
Well, folks, I have to cut this post short.
It’s taking too long with this lousy internet connection!
If it weren’t for the Wilson antenna, I wouldn’t be able to post at all. On Sunday the crew and I move to a new camp. I hope to receive better signal there.
rvsue
THANKS FOR SHOPPING AMAZON FROM MY BLOG!
The best flower arrangements are created in nature.
CLICK LINK TO SHOP AMAZON NOW!
Ha
CONGRATULATIONS, JAN! Love your strategy… 🙂
Oh my, I looked at the weather widget in the sidebar. The high today was 109 degrees. No wonder the crew and I are panting.
since the water spigot is handy it might be worth trying Ginger’s cold water on paws method to cool the crew off,when it’s hot with no ac I wet my hair before going to bed,hope it cools down soon
I fill that same red basin with water and lift Reggie and Bridget into it. The water comes up almost to their bellies. Only a short while and they’re ready to get out. Seems to help them a lot. I read with my feet in the water.
By bedtime it’s cooled down quite a bit.
Thanks for replying ,I know it’s hard to with the poor connection.I’ll feel and sleep better knowing you three do 🙂
You’re sweet. n-nite.
n-nite
well I just got home from Virginia and I find a new post…..I have
a lot of reading to do to catch up!!
chuck
Hi, chuck! Welcome back! This is pookie boy, right?
Sue, you are correct…..glad you pointed it out.
bought a new laptop while in Virginia and finding
it tough to get all my info from my old laptop to
the new one…..
it was 106 the day we got to my sons house in
Norfolk…….very unusual for that area but they
got a lot of snow this winnter which is also
unusual…..go figure…
chuck
Love this camp, I think I’ll miss being in the woods like this. But on the other hand….a new camp…..that’s kinda exciting too! How fun to travel along from the comfort of my sofa.
Hi, Dawn,
Well, being in the northwest I bet there are more woodsy camps in our future. 🙂
A visual for the water going into the basin. I couldn’t picture it in my mind. It’s a work of art. You are too funny!
I placed an order today on Amazon. Check out the bike helmets that we purchased. Clete got a gold sparkly one with a lightening bolt and I went for the white with purple and blue feather plumes! We will be visiting our Joint Forces Training Base not too far from our house for 4th of July and you cannot ride your bike onto the base without a helmet! So, of course, we didn’t stick to a standard solid color. The base is open to the public with food, bands, games, interesting military stuff to look at and, of course, the firework extravaganza in the evening.
Can’t wait to see the next beautiful place that you find!
Chris B
Hi, Chris,
I can’t see you or Clete donning a plain helmet. No way! Besides the lightening bolt and feather plumes will make your bikes go faster.
I haven’t seen the Amazon order yet. I’ll look for it. Thank you very much!
Hello Sue n gang, been a while but been watching and reading about yall. Wow 104 degrees! Sounds like time for some cool mountains. It’s that here in NC now with lots of thunder storms. Reggie is way cute. Have a great evening!
Bill n Sadie plus Mic
Hi, Bill,
It’s the one legged cowboy! Nice to see you here again.
Make that one-hundred-NINE degrees here today… with no air conditioning. Well, nature’s A/C…. trees!
I bet it feels hotter in NC with a thunderstorm brewing. I hope it cools you off.
So sorry the heat has been so crazy out there! Sheeeeesh! It was in the high 90s here today in the Florida panhandle! The weather is very weird this year!
I like your idea of cleaning the Casita with a long handled squeege. We use thecSwiffer on the MotherShip and it works great! I don’t use the swiffer cloths though, just an old wash cloth and it works great!
Good luck with your new camp and your visit with Edith!
Hi, Geri,
Thanks… No new developments to report re Edith.
Yeah, today was hot! Normally I would move to higher elevation in hot weather. This heat wave snuck up on us and by then it was too hot to move camp. I mean, I could have, but I didn’t have the ambition. It should be over soon.
I guess you have electric hookup for your a/c so you don’t need to use your swamp cooler.
Good idea using a Swifter with wash cloth…
You’re so right about the flower arrangements-that visual aid really was effective 🙂
The other one cracked me up.Gee,driving before having coffee and such a hot day,I’m glad your good humor has stayed in place .Easy to see why you don’t like to disappoint Reggie,even pouting he’s adorable.I’m glad you move camps early in the day,Sunday will apparently be less, but still quite, warm.Enjoy your remaining time where you are,I’ve loved the photos from there!
I’ll pack up as much as I can Sat. night and start out early on Sunday morning. I have to dump tanks and stop in a town that has a regular grocery store. I hope to fine a camp that isn’t too far off, and also within driving distance to Edith.
That pout-face of Reggie is rare. He’s a happy-go-lucky guy with a cheerful outlook. I could learn from him!
There’s nothing like being near someone that brings on a happy mood to improves ones outlook ,is there?Reggie has that role down pat.That’s among the benefits of my always having had a menagerie to wake up to.The cat has two moods- sweetly affectionate or full of piss and vinegar,both make me laugh.The birds,of course,sing,and the pups wag tails.One would have to have serious issues if this didn’t result in a glad state of mind 🙂
The way you plan and scout ahead with maps and other aids,I’m sure you’ll find a place that’s “just right” Sunday.If you don’t have one chosen ,likely a local or fellow traveler will point you in the right direction.You seem to have a way about you that always makes serendipity pop up with something delightful!
Gee, weather, you are so right about the mood-improving powers of our little friends. I thought of that this morning as Reggie was burrowing his head between my neck and the pillow. I can’t help but laugh! He has learned not to jump on me, not to paw at my face or dig in my hair, and he’s almost learned not to lick. He has to do something, so he’s come up with this burrowing technique. It is so funny! His back legs are very muscular and he uses them to propel himself under my neck. I don’t know how he breathes. Anyway, every morning is a giggle-fest…. Maybe it’s a blessing that Bridget’s hearing is poor. She keeps on sleeping.
You didn’t mention any difficulties with the birds. I’ll assume that means they are together and happily singing duets. 🙂
Serendipity has brought us to wonderful discoveries, that’s for sure! I hope the same for you today and for all the blogorinos.
“Serendipity has brought us to wonderful discoveries” ,sounds like another good title for the story of your life as a vagabond
Do you still have your second propane tank? Or, did you empty it and forget to fill it until you had no propane?
You certainly do not need any for heating. Perhaps a solar stove? Nah, take too long.
Okay, wise guy…. 🙂
I think the other tank has a valve problem or something. The last time I filled it, it emptied very quickly. Since we’ve been moving a lot I haven’t done anything about it. Being in an area of fairly high propane prices, I didn’t have it filled. So nooooooooo, I didn’t forget about it.
I took a chance that I could fill the other propane tank when we move camp on Sunday. I missed by a few days. Not a big deal, just written to sound that way for your entertainment.
Don’t know if this is helpful…but if the valve is leaking…spraying a soapy water mixture around the valve will detect it.
Right… Remember when we were in NV and I stopped for propane and the guy fiddled around with the tank and then realized he didn’t have any propane? That’s when the problem began. I don’t know the physics of propane tanks… I wonder if he screwed it up.
When you lift the ‘bad’ cylinder, does it feel totally empty? With the hose off and then opening the hand valve, does any come out? Have you notice that odor recently?
They have float valves inside, sort of like a toilet. It vents vapor out of the rear port that was opened by the ‘professional’ before filling to maintain the 80% liquid and 20% vapor balance.
You could try this: next time you fill your #1 tank, notice how heavy it is. Then have them fill your #2 tank and test if it is the same weight and same gallon amount. If it is noticeably lighter, there may be a problem with the fill valve. It may not have leaked; you may not have gotten a full fill. There is also the possibility, sadly, that the person that filled it didn’t fill the tank fully but charged you fully. If you actually saw the meter on the pump start from 00.00 to your usual fill amount, then that that rules that out. Or if they fill it still on the tongue, you might have not noticed the lack of weight. They might not have reset the pump and sent you to another area to get the bill. I’m most certain you are way to smart for that trick, but just wanted to bring awareness for anyone that may be distracted with on-road duties and stresses.
The last person that filled the tank in question may not have closed the overflow valve all the way. If it was just slightly ajar, you might not see any vapor spitting out and if you went back on road immediately, you wouldn’t have noticed any smell. The cylinder could have released a lot by the time you got to your next site.
If somehow someone did something improper, the cylinder may have gotten air in it so when you tried to refill, it didn’t get a complete fill. However, the air should get purged out by the gas. If the guy that was hooked up but said they ran out wasn’t ‘fully knowledgeable it that art’, something may have been done incorrectly.
Try to refill it again and have some soapy water and an old toothbrush ready to check all the joints on the entire valve head that sticks out of the cylinder.(of course, once the hose is reattached and the hand valve is open, check for leaks in/on the hose and it’s connections) Compare weights of the two ‘full’ cylinders. Watch the pump’s meter from start to finish. If it doesn’t take a full fill, there may be something wrong with the internal float assembly. If you have the 20# cylinder, you could go to one of those store front cylinder exchanges. (big box hardware, etc.) The exchange company has to check out and test the ones that they get back later before they reuse them. But it won’t be your problem then. (store’s policies may vary)
Unnoticed leaking propane is not conducive to having happy adventures.
Good tips, MVG.
I think I have an issue right now with the float-type thing in my ASME propane tank (built in vs. portable, like a DOT tank, but similar concept).
The symptom is that when I first got the rig, the tank was full. Showed full on both inside and outside gauges. Around a year later I went to re-fill (by then was showing about 1/4 full on gauges), and they could only put in around 5 gallons before it would not take any more (it’s a 19 gallon tank). Also, then the gauge only showed around half, which would fit with having 4 gallons and adding 5 gallons. I went to another place right away (this place was not totally up to speed; for example they said my ASME tank was due to be certified, but they don’t “expire” like DOT tanks do) and they couldn’t get any in. Hmmm.
So I used that until I was back to around 1/4 tank, and then went to a third place. I got the owner and had him walk me through the whole procedure (which I had also boned up on online, where I found some really good youtube videos and static web pages explaining it all) and after around 5 gallons… yep, it acted full.
All still works fine, but no sense having a tank that can only be filled halfway. So next time I get low, I’m going to go to a propane place for a diagnosis and repair. I bet it is the “toilet float” hanging up or malfunctioning somehow, but it looks like that can be replaced.
Now there was an exciting story. I’m sure everyone has run off to make popcorn…. 😉
Yep , the popcorns on the stove waitin’ to get cooked on the outside fire,,,,,,,,,,, Pen ,, I have 20 pound tank that holds 4.5 gallons and I know just about how much she’s gonna take to fill her up,,,,,,,,,,,, like the pun?,,,,, me
Light on the butter, with a sprinkling of Parmesan for me, please! 🙂
On a serious note, I love how Sue’s blogorinos offer help and suggestions. I learn something new all the time. Thanks a bunch! 🙂
Butter n’ fresh crushed Garlic ,,,,,,,,,,,,, mmmm mmmmm ,,,me
That’s right Denise, We all have something to teach,,,, no pun intended , but this Blog belongs to a retired Teacher,,,,,, we’re all a learnin’ ,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Gawd that sounds yummy Rusty! Heavy on the butter…for me!
Extra napkin please!
I like working on puzzles and just want to make Sue’s adventures as carefree as possible. She may have retired from the profession, but I’m still learning from her.
Thanks, Maple Valley Gal and Pen…
Here’s the situation….. The tank we’re talking about ran out of propane. While the BLT was hooked up, I had both tanks filled. I always watch the meter. I was surprised that the tank in question only took about 2 gallons. When I used that tank it ran out too quickly, so apparently those 2 gallons did not “top off” the tank, those 2 gallons were all the propane in the tank.
You solved the puzzle, Maple Valley Gal, and I’ll do the exchange as you suggested, Pen.
Great information! Thank you very much! Once again…. blogorinos to the rescue! 🙂
That last photo is stunning! Gosh, 109 degrees- are you sure you’re not in Texas?
Hi, Susan,
I’m not sure we’re in Oregon! 😉
Eeks! 109 temps in cool Oregon. Hopefully that heat isn’t heading to the SF Bay Area. It’s hot here with temps in the high 90s. We don’t need more heat. Even though Reggie looks bored, he’s still a cutie! Your campsite is very pretty-looks peaceful too.
Hi. Monica,
Gee, it seems like yesterday we were camped in snow. I like how the weather widget in the sidebar says “tomorrow is forecasted to be MUCH COOLER than today” and then it says it will go up to 96 degrees. Since when is 96 much cooler!
Yikees! That is REALLY hot. It is 75 here on the coast. 🙂
Not fair! 🙂
Well Done!!!
I’ll bet the BLT looks great!!!
Yes, she does, Lynn. She sparkles!
You’re in my neck ‘o the woods, Sue. I lived in Lyons/Mehama for 10 yrs, now I live in Salem but I’m right there with you on the heat … it’s just gonna get hotter too in the next several days. Hope you’re close enough to dangle your feet in the Santiam somewhere … really takes the edge off.
Hi, Sherry,
I happened to talk briefly with a woman from Salem as the crew and I walked the campground loop late yesterday. She was at the toilet house with a passel of kids. They hadn’t been in the campground very long. She said it was 106 in Salem… and I told her it was 109 here in Detroit earlier in the day. She looked shocked, “Here?” They probably came here to be cooler. I wouldn’t want to deal with children in a campground during a heat wave. God help her!
It was 101.7 by 2 p.m. Today here in Roseville in Nirthern California and I gave up looking at thermometer after that, it was just plain HOT and 5 of the next 6 days predicted over 100 here. Feel for you 3 Sue with no AC. Make sure to stay hydrated all 3 of you. I still remember your first few weeks in the BLT when you had a nasty bout of dehydration so the nurse in me worries a teensy bit you may forget that experience. In fact all Blogerinos pay attention to your hydration, even where humidity is high hydration is super important in hot weather.stay safe all.
Very good and timely advice, Velda. That “nasty bout of dehydration” still reminds me. I keep a bottle of water on the table next to my laptop and whenever I go out to the lounger I make sure I bring water out there, too. Connecting a habit I want to acquire (drinking plenty of water) with a habit I already possess (going online for hours, sitting in the lounger) is my strategy. Then I’m not relying on my memory…
Oh dear, “5 of the next 6 days predicted over 100 here.” You aren’t that far away from us. Guess I’d better check the forecast for Oregon. . . Keep cool, Velda!
Seems Tuesday will be peak somewhere around 106 here but two years ago this same week had 7 or 8 days of over 100 with several over 110 and one 114! It was while I was living in my van at the hospital while Mel had his major cancer surgery. My poor van fridge struggled to keep food cold and I had electricity so kept AC on at 85 during day to help but not run continuously. It was brutal, still 90 when I returned to rig after 9 pm.
A trick I have learned is to put just a tiny sprinkle of sea salt in my water. We eat a pretty much no added salt diet but with the heat a tiny bit of extra minerals helps. I’m not adding enough I can taste just a tiny sprinkle per bottle. My calculations per my weight show I need at least 2 to 3 quarts of water per day. Sue you may want at some point to consider a travel size Berkey. We were surprised once we began running all our drinking water through it how much more we began drinking. I always thought Roseville water tasted fine, though once in a while it had a tiny chlorine taste, but the difference was immediately apparent to both of us in The amount of water we drink with using the Berkey. Not sure but Mel may have gotten ours through Amazon or someone else, just know it is a mainstay now both at home and on the road. Our filters last years because we are not running pond water through them . I realize Sue you buy machine or bottled water to drink but all of that is treated and it’s that ” treatment” we are filtering that has us guzzling water better than before. The Berkeys are certified to clean 3rd world water so would work anywhere you travel for sure.
Wouldn’t the filter go on my sink faucet? If so, I wouldn’t want it because I’d be drinking water out of the BLT’s “fresh” water tank.
WoW,,,, it’s only 103 in LHC, AZ. but by 5pm 109 with 90s by 5am,,,,,,,,,,, me
No the Berkey does not hook to faucet! It is a stainless steel or lexan tank with upper chamber you fill and lower chamber with spigot where water ends up. Our travel size is about 9 in diameter and maybe 18 in tall when in use. When empty it nests to be same diameter but a little over half height. When traveling in RV we sit Berkey in sink ( having only bottom filtered chamber full so it is not top heavy) and I cushion with a towel and we hook a bungie cord around base of faucet to prevent shifting on a bumpy road then set up on counter when stopped. Because the travel version is only about 9 in diameter it takes,up little space. We bought both ours stainless steel to eliminate possibility of breakage and have a extra spout just in case. Hold I think 1.5 gallons. It is in a totally different class than those pitcher things or the faucet filters.
Sue I used your own link for this but you will want to fix it to be sure it links to you
http://www.amazon.com/Travel-Berkey-Filters-Fluoride-Camping/dp/B00KXIETKG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1435445352&sr=8-2&keywords=Berkey+filter+travel
Wow. Look good but pricey!
The point to remember here Ginger is, you can use ANY water source to fill the Berkey and get clean safe water. So, while boondocked near a clear stream, but one you certainly would not dip a cup from and drink, grab a bucketful, fill the Berkey and in a little while ( it does take time with a gravity feed water filter) you would have clean safe water, vs paying as much as $1 a gallon to buy from stores if no free clean source is available. We just happen to like our drink not to taste of chlorine, but that is mere convenience while it could be not just money saving to use it, it could be life saving in an emergency. We figure it is an emergency prep supply that does not just sit on shelf but gets used daily.
I can’t substitute one of my links with this weak internet. Anyone wishing to purchase can use my Amazon search box for “Travel-Berkey-Filters-Fluoride-Camping.”
Thank you, Velda.
Good morning , Sue, and fellow blogorinos!
Thanks for sharing your cleaning tips. It usually takes me almost half an hour just to clean a small bathroom! How long is your squeege? With your ladder, are you able to reach the roof as well? I have said it before, when you clean and/or wax the BLT, it shines like new! Just another thing to like about a fiberglass egg! Thanks for sharing a picture of Reggie in a not so happy mood. Still so cute, but shows another dimension to his little personality. One can really see that his eye is totally healed; that it is the same shape and size of the other eye – yay! I know you are relieved!
I have to take Gracie to the vet this morning. She, like many small dog breeds, tends to have anal gland issues. When they get irritated, she will lick the base of her tail raw. I have a spray on med that helps, but she has really done a number on herself this time…not sure if it is all from licking or partially from scooting. I need to get this under control quickly. Little Miss is very healthy otherwise…thank goodness!
Hope you all have a good day and are able to keep cool. Sending you and the cute Crew hugs from me and cute Gracie pup! 🙂
Blogorino family…please stay safe during these very hot summer days. Drink enough water, and stay inside when temps and ozone levels are high. And, if you live in an area like me where we are having violent wind/rain/hail/lightening/sometimes tornado storms every couple days, make sure you have have fresh batteries for your flashlight/radio, bottled water, canned food, a full tank of gas in the car, and refills on any Rx for you and your pets. Gotta love summer time in the Mid-Atlantic! 🙂
P.S. – Edith, like Reggie, will join your family if and when the time is right. 🙂
Exactly. 🙂
Hi, Denise,
Good idea to take Gracie to the vet right away. She doesn’t need to have that irritation, and I bet hot weather adds to the discomfort. Yes. I’m very relieved about Reggie’s eye. Someone mentioned it could’ve been a grass allergy. He hasn’t been exposed to much grass since then… only grass cut short.
The squeegee is about 3 feet long… You know, the regular size used to clean windshields. No, I can’t reach the very top of the BLT. Can’t see it anyway… 🙂
I also discovered that a squeegee makes cleaning the floor of the BLT easy, too. It gives the leverage to scrub right up into the corners. I can do the entry all the way to the stove by standing outside in the doorway with the squeegee. It only takes a couple minutes to do the entire floor.
Thanks for the hugs and the preparedness tips…
Goldens have that “issue” also. Nothing worse than them being uncomfortable or doing the “choo choo” .
Hope Gracie feels better.
Thanks, Cinandjules and Sue,
Well, the vet checked Gracie over and just advised that I continue to apply the GentaSpray topical medicine, and also suggested that I try Glandex – a powdered fiber supplement to be sprinkled on her food. If it helps, great, but I will be looking for an alternative, such as Metamucil or such. Much cheaper. I had been adding canned pumpkin to her meals, which she loves, but apparently that was not adding enough bulk to help.
Hopefully Gracie will heal up and now be comfortable…no choo choo ing for a while! 🙂
Canned pumpkin…. I tried it with Bridget and Spike and they wouldn’t go near it. Hope Gracie’s hiney clears up soon!
Thanks, Sue! 🙂
Denise, we add shredded carrots to the food here and give them carrot chips! Adds the bulk they need and they love their carrot treats!
Thanks for the tip, Geri! I will give that a try. Gracie loves carrots, so that would be an easy add-on to her meals. 🙂
Gracie says to tell AO, she feels her pain!! 🙂
I bought a squeegee that looks similar to yours, and I think it was Walmart, with an extendable handle. It is close to 3 ft before extending. It allows me to reach the top of my van windows which front is kind of high. Very handy and I keep behind front seat so always available.
Thanks for the tip Velda and Sue. I have added this to my “stuff I need for my future trailer” list. 🙂
A multi-task tool – great! A grass allergy…possible, since it seemed to flair up in Spring during high grass pollen season.
Enjoy the rest of your day! Another round of rain and stormy weather has just started…have to shut down the computer for now. 🙂
Are Gracie’s glands impacted?
No, thank goodness. No infection, just full. My previous Westie had the same problem. She had infections several times and actually needed surgery. Very expensive. After the third time, I asked the vet to teach me to extract internally…does a better job.
I looked up that gland ex product…hope it works.
Long ago my first Golden, Montana had to go to the vets every month. The tech also show me how to do it. Takes some practice…aim wise. 😉 but after years of experience, I’ve got it down.
Use extreme caution if they suggest removal…Jules’ mom’s dog had them removed and when it barks it poops! (Lovely 🙁 ). Anyhow…they won’t tell you the possible side effects.
Cinandjules,
Sorry…..but THAT is a hysterical visual! I would waste my data on the video of that. 😀
Thanks…yeah, I did research years ago. The removal fixes one problem and causes another – nasty.. The surgery that my previous pup had was to drain the glands and then pack them with a steroid & antibiotic medication to calm them down and clear the infection. It worked for a while…then had to repeat a couple times. I feel bad for Jules’ mom’s dog – poor thing! It is probably mortified that it has no control over making a mess. Oh..and poor mom, too!
Changing gears….have you noticed the influx of Escapes for sale listed on the forum the past couple weeks?
Yep…everyone wants bigger!
Geez, not having that problem in NY. Here it is cool and overcast, partly raining…for days.
Hi Sue and Crew!
Ugh, no AC is torture.. Thank goodness for water and shade. The trailer looks wonderful! Good day for water jobs!
The last time I recall such a long and early hot spell was in 1977. It was the year they filmed Animal House in Cottage Grove, and I remember walking home from work watching the digital temperature sign go up and up…
I am going to head home for a few days. My daughter has other family in town and I need to be cool. Too much. Just too much…
Had a wonderful time yesterday with some brain bonk buddies… One in town for a funeral… So I got us all together for a short visit. We were stuck on I- 5 forever so came back to Puyallup via Yelm. Easy driving and no traffic. Thank goodness for back roads!
Best to y’all!
Love the photos.
Barb From Hoquiam via Orting
Hi, Barb,
“brain bonk buddies”…. Never heard that before! How nice that you gathered them together…
That I-5 can be horrible whether the traffic is moving or not. I avoid it as much as I can. Is it me or does it seem like Thursday traffic is turning into Friday traffic now that summer is here.
I hope you can be cool at home….
Tee Hee! I made it up (BBB–Brain Bonk Buddies–that is). My grandson made me buttons that I hand out to folks… It is fun. We ‘get it’… with each other.
Saw the Founder’s Day Parade in Aberdeen and lots of friends, then off to an anniversary gathering. In the AC thank you!
Stay cool Sue and Crew!
Hugs from Hoquiam!
Barb
Are you in Puyallup? That’s where I used to live.
Another beautiful, cool and peaceful looking spot. 109° actual degrees would have me hugging the air conditioning. Oh yes, that is almost what I have been doing here…Temps in the high 90°’s but the heat index has been 105°-110° The humidity is what zaps me.
Hope all the blogerinos have a safe and happy weekend. And, of course, sending Big Hugs and Lots of Love to you, Bridget and Reggie!!!
Hi, Pauline,
A Mississippi 90 degrees is hotter than an Oregon 109 degrees. Take it easy this weekend. . . iced tea and a/c…
Love you!
I agree on that one. When I lived in the coastal Mid-Atlantic (muggy!), 90’s were torture, and 80’s were plenty hot.
Out west, where it is dry, I can handle 100º if I’m in the shade, with a breeze, and relaxing. 90’s are tolerable too. Granted, I like it to get into at least the 70’s for sleeping, but it usually does, and even if it does not, a cool/wet cloth plus a fan = chilly! (In a good way.)
I don’t miss muggy weather one bit (OTOH, a friend who lives on the Gulf Coast hates dry-atmosphere places).
In Colorado my hair would fly all around from the dry- static. Walk by another person and it would jump at them. In Washington it would fly all around with humid frizz. Curl and style my hair and by the time I got into my vehicle… poof..frizzball. No mater what ‘product’ I used. Oh well. More things to laugh about.
Yes, my hair and I have a climate disagreement: I like dry, but my hair prefers humid. However, since I have the keys and the driver’s license…. 😀 😀
Hi Pen,
Where ’bouts are you now? Which state and closest town? Are you there for the climate or just passin’ thru?
We have not yet hit 100 here in Prescott. Although staying too long in direct sun light can be painful. I have often dreamed of spending June on the oregon coast when the sun is most brutal here.
Hi, wildflower,
According to Krystina, the Oregon coast is having temps in the 70s. *sigh*
You’re in relatively cool part of AZ…. Over AZ Jim’s way it’s a lot hotter… Of course, you know that..
111 this minute in Surprise.
Being able to get the trailer clean with a basin of water is sweet. We pay two people with ladders and cleaners and a truck and it gets dirty the next day. We didn’t want the dark paint job but couldn’t find a white or light one so now we just have a dirty house most of the time. Dryer sheets to get the bugs off still works the best 🙂 We’re headed up the coast to Oregon, will be there next week and hoping our cool temps continue.
Hi, Jodee,
I do like the looks of the darker paint on big rigs. Sometimes I wish the BLT and PTV were dark colors so we would blend in more with the landscape (I say blend when I really mean hide!)
You’ll be cool next week on the Oregon coast…. sea breezes and all…
I wonder if it could be wrapped? A fellow in the sign business wrapped a pick up completely in a jungle camo…it looked great when he finished! Its hot here but not as bad as it has been down into the 90’s from the 102’s but we have the humidity too 55% today. Hope it cools off put a little ice in a bandanna and wrap it round your neck! Stay cool hope you find the perfect camp tomorrow.
I’ve thought that too! Since most folks use their trailers in the summer I understand why they make them white to keep the heat off. But I’ve always thought it would be so cool to paint one Forest Service green so that it blends in.
Good Mornin’ Sue, Reggie looks like he’s pouting,,,,,,,, I’m doing great today and already been out playin’ with Timber,,,,,,,,,,, it was 89 here at Camp Bennet yesterday ,,,,,,,,,, Have a great day you 3 and stay cool,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, rusty
Good morning, Rusty and Timber,
I am very relieved you are feeling great today! You had me worried. One thing I never want to happen to you or me or any of the solo vagabonds is to have a fever come on quickly and not be able to drive oneself for help. Whew! Continue to take good care of yourself the way you’ve been doing, lots of fluids, lots of rest, so you don’t have a relapse.
You were smart to climb that mountain when you did! 89 is cool compared to what a lot of us are dealing with. Enjoy your free campground! Hmm. . . . maybe the crew and I will camp there someday.
If you do camp here, try to get here on a Sunday or Monday,,, Some folks from Utah come and setup false camps to kind of reserve their camps,,, and this group of folks have every site but ours and we’re on a loop which has 2 sites,,, I guess ,, no one wants to camp next to a barkin’ Husky,(Timber),,,,,,,,,, At this camp there is tank toilet , closed in, some fire rings and tables, but none at our spot,,, looks like there was a table here once a long time ago,,,,,,,, And all the CG’s up here,,, one must drive all up hill.,,,,,,, I notice that some folks who dive up here doesn’t know how to go down a hill without burnin’ up their brakes,,,,,,,,, one car came in from the upper camps and cooled their Disk Brakes with water from the cold creek here,,, thats’ goin’ to warp the Disks and maybe crack them which will co$t them,,,,,,,,,, I always use my gears to slow us down,, first gear if it’s really steep,, 2nd if medium steep and other than that just take ones foot off the brakes unless one needs to slow down and while applying the brakes, down shift… you’ll save your gas and brakes at the same time ,,, but for hill country ,, always check your brakes before going up,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, rusty
In Utah I saw several campers that were empty during the week. It’s common practice in Ashley National Forest between Vernal and Flaming Gorge, for people to put their camper in a campsite to hold it for the weekends which, of course, makes it unavailable for people to use during the week.
Good advice about gears on the downhill… Thanks for all the details about Bennett Campground.
Sue,, I read the Forest Service Rules for campin’ in a NFCG ; one must camp the first night and camps( like tents, Rv’s, and or trailers), are not to be left unattended for more than 24 hours. they can be towed at owners expense and fined or imprisonment or both. but I haven’t seen a FS person since we arrived Sunday,,,,,,,,,,,, me
I’ve read that, too, Rusty. In Ashely NF in Utah, the rangers look the other way. I spoke with a Utah native and he said no one ever gets in trouble about it.
Why does that make me feel angry?
For the same reason that ‘non-profit’ churches are buying up hospitals, yet cannot find the money to pay lawsuit judgments? Just a guess. Might just be me.
Glad to hear that you are feeling better, Rusty! Timber….take good care of your Dad! 🙂
Hi Sue and Crew!, Haven’t written in some time, been spending a lot of time in the woods this spring. When I come home I do catch up with your faithful blog. It has been wonderful following your experiences along the journey. Love all Reggie’s excitement and character and sweet Bridget. It has been very hot here in Virginia, I have no AC in my camper. Do not like camping in 100 degree heat, more humidity here.
Ha! Love the wash job on the camper. Let her shine, she’s been good to you. My little fiberglass camper is only 13 ft long and has also been washed in the campground also. Gotta love FG. Going to insulate between the double walls now with Reflectix, hoping this will help with the heat and cold.
Your choice of sites is spectacular, always can’t wait to see the next one. Thank you and Take Care, Sue and Crew!
You’re welcome, Diane…. Great to see you here again!
“Spending a lot of time in the woods” is an excused absence. No note required. Ha!
Isn’t fiberglass great? The grime wipes off so easily and the shine comes back. I neglected the BLT this past winter, didn’t give her a good waxing, yet she’s still looking pretty good.
Good luck with the insulating… I don’t understand how you are going to insert the Reflectix between the walls. You’re pulling out the interior?
Yeah, when it’s 100 degrees and humid, it’s not good camping. Keep cool!
Sue, I have a UHaul CT 13 30 years old. It does not have the rat fur or fiber lining the walls. Made with a double wall hull. So I am going to get into the compartments and slide the Reflectix up into the hull.
On another note, You said you slept with the door open. I used to do that also when hot. Now the BEAR population has grown so much that I can no longer do that. Have had bears around the camper at night. Even sitting and leaning against the door. Sooo…..
I understand now about the double wall hull. I wonder if Reflectix is the best choice for in between the walls. I’m curious if any blogorinos have suggestions.
Good reminder about bears… Although there isn’t a big bear population around here, to paraphrase my father’s words, it only takes one.
Hi Gang….
This morning I was reading a discussion about vegetarianism and got to thinking about it and how no one really took responsibility for being a part of the meat production in America. Don’t get me wrong, I eat beef, fish and fowl, but the subject interested me so I decided to write something to reflect what I gleaned about culpability.
Cowboy
I went out like the others
Full of breakfast knowing
From now on for two weeks
I had to survive on Cookies food
Mornings came early, too early
The ground was hard but I slept
The day was long and the sun hot
The saddle get to a man in a painful
Way after sittin in it all day and
Riding hard. But on we rode, all of
Us.
These cattle had to make it to
Market and it was we who got
‘Em there. Counted, put in pens
The cattle, not us.
Now many of those cows are in
Your grocery store, under plastic
Put there by folks who didn’t really
Know about them like me.
Butchered, but on grills, served
To laughing friends with beer,
I didn’t put ’em there….
I was just one of the cowboys….
AZ Jim
“Greatness is the old man who plants a tree knowing he’ll never sit in it’s shade”
I hope you enjoy the thought. Hi Missy and crew.
Your creativity is a special gift to all of us, Jim. Thanks. 🙂
Today’s high, just north of Seattle, was said to be 82 but it felt HOTTER!! It is going up…clear up to 94 in a few days!! Oregon coast may be cooler…well, if you are right on the coast of WA, it is likely cooler too…inland waters can be warmer. Humidity has a lot to do with how we feel heat. Tonight was an awesome sunset over Whidby Island however…we went down to take photos…will help inspire hubby on his paintings.
“Sunset over Whidby Island” — How romantic that sounds, Elizabeth!
Here’s to inspiration for your husband and a wonderful day for both of you… 🙂
Yea, it is a nice part of being married…we NEED to walk for our health…and that is good for a relationship too…I have more of his undivided attention when there is no computers nearby…ha! There have been some of the most awesome sunsets I have seen here in these parts. Of course, it is when there are clouds that make it so awesome, in my opinion. I love flowers and sunsets that are purple…and that is what we had last night…stupendous deep pinks and purples…I hope you get to see some when you get closer to the coast.
Good morning,Sue,I hope everything goes well today and the new camp is a delight to find and be in.It looks like the temperature will make what you do easy to enjoy.May that ease be part of all involved in what you and crew encounter along the way 🙂
Good morning, weather,
Thank you. I hope your day goes well, too. A full day ahead for us…. travel, dump station, grocery store, gas, and a new camp… 🙂
Hi Sue,I hope this morning finds you enjoying the fruits of yesterday’s labors.As you’re trying to remain within driving distance of Portland’s outskirts I’m guessing you’ll have a strong enough signal,from your new camp or a nearby road, to at least read comments .Knowing you’ll want to save details for a new post ,I won’t ask you you all the questions on my mind,just wish you a marvel-ous day.Our cloud cover here may have left dim color to see ,I marvel at the brightly hues birds flying through every few seconds making it a visual paradise instead.Have fun discovering
Good morning, weather….
I’m glad you’re enjoying your “visual paradise.” No, I don’t have internet at our new camp — too many mountains. I’m in town typing this. I hope to put a short post together while I can… 🙂
Mountains have so many wonderful things to offer.Guess you’re meant to enjoy those for now instead of a computer.I’ll miss you of course,yet pray you find loveliness in all ways .Thanks for replying,Sue.
Wishing you luck with finding a new camp near Edith!
I’m going over to do the walk through on my rented house; the tenants are leaving. Soon I will be staying there in my empty house. Till we rent it out again.
Meanwhile next week is my last week of class. Then I will start working, on the shadow team at first. The shadow team does a real assignment, just like a real team. Then we compare to the real team to see how we did. I hope to have to ‘shadow’ for only a few weeks. I’m going to miss my classmates!
Don’t know when I’m going home but not right away!
Off to shower and get ready to go.
Ginger,
So glad you are doing so much better and loving your class! Asked about you earlier when I didn’t see any recent posts from you. Was hoping all was still going good. Hope your walk-though goes well. Rental property…the income is always nice, the repairs are a pain! Some cities or counties make you paint every room even if they do not need it. That is always a cost of money and time for the landlord. I remember those days, and the paint rollers!
Well the tenants were screaming at me because I didn’t bring their deposit with me and when I mentioned the kitchen sink and both bathtubs were dirty they lost their minds, saying the house wasn’t clean when they moved in bla bla bla. I got away as quickly as I could and will go back later. Not a fun experience! Hopefully I won’t have to do much to get it ready for rental.
Ain’t that the way! Never fails. And to think how happy they were to have found the place when they rented it. So grateful that it came up just when they needed it. Come move out time and all that is all but forgotten by those kinds of tenants!
Tain’t that fun dealing with tenants…or landlords…we have been both. I remember making my hubby give back all the deposit money even though the damages far succeeded that amount…figured it was better than to have them coming back to vandalize!! Be careful dear Ginger…hope you have a good friend or 2 to be with you in dealing with these angry people.
Thanks for the good luck wish, Ginger… The same to you!
Morning Sue!
Loved reading this… Sue says, “Ah yes, tastes so good . . . Ta-daaa! The day has officially begun!”
Totally agree! Pamela says, “~Never truer words were ever spoken!”~ 🙂
For years I worked the midnight shift, my ex-mother-in-law would ALWAYS call me every morning, way too early, which of course was equal to her night time sleeping schedule. Well, finally I had had enough of the early morning calls…
“Ruthie-May, for me life DOES NOT BEGIN before 10:00 AM and COFFEE!
Next time, I’ll call you at my mid-day break…around 3:00 AM. Would that be OK?You’ll be up then, won’t you???”
HA!” Needless to say, that pretty much curbed that quickly enough, LOL.
So reading that line you wrote really resounds with me.
Ah, yes, COFFEE is the beginning of the day.
Cleaning fiberglass trailers is a lot easier than most other trailer surfaces, for sure. When I clean the Airstream I use dog shampoo, no kidding. Works better than any of the rv cleaners, laundry soaps or dish soaps. Not sure what dog shampoo has over all the others but it cuts right through all the dirt and streaks every time. Rinse it off and you’re done.
Well, i’m off now. It was a long night for Klemper and me. Had a fun time all day but now it’s time to get moving again, but with a slower Sunday!
Have a fine day. Hugs to the Crew.
Good morning, Pamela,
Your early morning wake-up calls reminded me of a situation several years ago. I was active in church at the time, working full-time, and also had a huge load of responsibilities. One of the ladies in the church would call me every Saturday morning around 7 to chat. Huh?
Dog shampoo… interesting. I was glad to see the BLT cleaned easily with only water. Can’t use anything like soap due to the proximity of the river.
Have a relaxing Sunday!
Interesting… What IS it about the 6:00 AM hour that makes ~morning people~ wide awake and want to chat? That is the same time of the morning Ruthie-Mae would call me on my days off. If she called on my work days it was always around 8:30 AM or 9:00 AM, just about the time I was into a deep sleep since I got off at 7:00 AM. Used to drive me nuts! And the two of us were very close, loved her, but she just couldn’t stop herself until I DID call her at 3:00 AM during my break. Yep, that finally drove it home for her 🙂
I’m not really a phone person. If someone called me in the early morning to chat they would probably not do that often. I wouldn’t be any fun at all.
I’m with you, not at all a phone person. I almost never make phone calls. My mother and my son used to be on me for not calling. I they would tease me about dropping off the face of the earth, until email, lol. Never was into the phone thing. Thank god for email!
Hi, Everyone!
The crew and I are on the road today. The heat wave is taking a break while we travel. 🙂 I don’t know if I’ll have internet at our new camp.
Please welcome new folks and answer questions that arise in my absence. Thanks!
Bye for now!
Sue
Hi Sue, Safe travels! Hope your new place is as refreshing as this one. How pretty and peaceful.
Dear Sue and Crew and Blogorinos (don’t know if I spelled that right!),
I’ve said it before that I’m not a camping fan but I have to say I am impressed with how much I am learning about camping, rigs, water filters, propane tanks etc. It is really interesting to read how much you all know about it. I’m impressed with everyone’s knowledge and willingness to share it. Education is good, regardless of what it is!
Thanks! Kay from KC!
Safe travels Sue and crew! And good hunting. We will carry on in your absence.
Hey everyone….the cat’s away….woohoo! Break out the noisemakers and party favors and let’s have a kegger!
Count me IN! I’m always up for a rowdy party, lol.
Now about that dance music, crank it up!!!
Whoo- Hoo!! count me in! I’ll bring some munchies! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Good luck with getting your current tenants out of your hair and preparing for new tenants. Hopefully you will have someone interested soon, so you can leave when you are ready, on your terms. 🙂
I’m curious about the NFS campground rules. Do I understand this correctly…
If you pay to get into the park and you pay for a campsite and while you are there you want to backpack for a day or two you risk having your RV towed if you are not back within 24 hrs? I know some trails close at dark while others are open and also have tent sites for overnight stays on the trail. I wonder if the rules for that are made by the NFS or are made by states or private companies leasing the NFCG. Anyone know for sure? I know some RVers like to also pack the trails while they are staying in the CGs. Some do overnight on the trails while there and return later to their home-base RV for the rest of their stay.
I don’t know about ya’ll but I am becoming increasingly concerned about our National Public Lands and Sites looking and sounding more like Private lands with higher fees, less sites without full hook-ups, and rules that make their use a serious problem for the Average Joe/Jane and Seniors who are not disabled but do have some mild physical limits. I, like others, could never pack my tent stuff into a campsite without using my car nearby to assist me.
Hi, Pamela,
I think that letting the campground host know what you would like to do will take care of that occupancy requirement.
Sue,
That’s good, yes, would try that when the time is right. I know I can’t pack on a trail very far without resting for a good while. I have read of places, parks, where you can load your kayak and kayak in, trail some and then kayak to another trailhead. That is what I would most be interested in doing. Makes getting me back to the Van and RV much simpler when i’m done. You used to kayak, did you do any recently…recently but before Reggie. LOL, I can picture Reggie on a lead off the back with his own water toys! Oh my!
Thanks for the reply, hope your travel day and new camp are perfect for you and The Crew.
Love the temp widget! This is the first time I noticed it, but maybe it’s been there all along. It gives me a clear picture of your experience! Hope you can keep it going!
Good Morning Sue and Blogorinos! Today is Monday, so I suppose that Sue will be along anytime. I was up in the local mountains out of cell phone service most of the weekend at a festival in a wild life santuary. I had the honor of having my picture taken with a Wolf! (the real kind) but not wild. Hand raised by a very educated handler who raises wolves for education and conservation. She brought a 6 week old puppy that she picked up that very day that was shipped to her from Ohio. Beautiful little black puppy, about the size of my 13 year old poodle. Boy is that going to be a big Wolf. She she has 2 white wolves and now one black wolf to take to schools and functions for education purposes. Bless her heart. While in Idaho, they hunt and shoot these beautiful creatures for sport? Oh well, I will never get it. Everyone have a good day and I hope a good weekend was had by all…mine was.
Hi Weather! 🙂
The reason why they shoot Wild Wolves is because of they’re attacks on cattle, sheep and us,,,,,, there is a program to relocate the troubled Wolves,,,,,, but to some,,, , it cost less to just shoot them,,,, Sorry that’s hard to understand ,,, , I too ,,,, love the Beauty of the Wolf,,” Timber”, Has a distant wolf in his bloodline from Russia,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, rusty
Hi Weather and All you Blogerooooos,,,,,,,,,,,, Timber
Good morning, Shirlene!
Goodie reception for you! Have a good day. 🙂